Maine prices its lifetime licences by the age you buy them, and the curve is worth seeing: eight dollars at seventy and over, fifty at sixty-five, sliding by about ten dollars a year in between. For a sixty-eight-year-old that is twenty dollars for the rest of their fishing life. The annual is twenty-five for a resident, and the Super Pack at two hundred and seven bundles essentially everything the state sells.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Maine fishing fee
Licences run by calendar year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-day fishing | Resident | 1 day | $18.00 |
| One-day fishing | Visitor | 1 day | $18.00 |
| Three-day fishing | Resident | 3 days | $30.00 |
| Three-day fishing | Visitor | 3 days | $30.00 |
| Seven-day fishing | Visitor | 7 days | $62.00 |
| Fifteen-day fishing | Visitor | 14 days | $66.00 |
| Serviceman resident combination | Resident | Annual | $3.00 |
| Serviceman dependent fishing | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Serviceman dependent combination | Resident | Annual | $20.00 |
| Season fishing, 16 and over | Resident | Annual | $30.00 |
| Combination fishing and hunting | Resident | Annual | $48.00 |
| Combination fishing and archery | Resident | Annual | $48.00 |
| Season fishing, 16 and over | Visitor | Annual | $83.00 |
| Combination fishing and hunting | Visitor | Annual | $169.00 |
| Super Pack | Resident | Annual | $212.00 |
A $2.00 agent fee is added to every licence. Maine prices lifetime licences by the age you buy them: $8.00 at 70 and over, $50.00 at 65, dropping about $10.00 a year in between.
Prices changed: Resident fishing licence $25 to $30, the first rise in 15 years; nonresident season licence $64 to $83. Old and new prices, the date and the law (in force, the 2026 licence year).
Passing through? A visitor pays $18 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 5 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Do you need a fishing licence in Maine?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$30.00 a year if you live in Maine, $83.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16.
- Everyone on the state free fishing days.
Nobody needs a licence on Maineβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official MDIFW licensing page β
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 15 Maine waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Sebago Lake β Cumberland County
- Rangeley Lake β Franklin County
- Mooselookmeguntic Lake β Oxford County
- Moosehead Lake β Piscataquis County
- Grand Lake Stream β Washington County
- West Branch Penobscot River β Piscataquis County
- Rapid River β Oxford County
- Kennebec River β Somerset County
- Kennebago Lake β Franklin County
- Penobscot River β Penobscot County
- Chesuncook Lake β Piscataquis County
- China Lake β Kennebec County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Maine?
$30.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $83.00 for a non-resident. Short-term licences cost less and are listed in full above.
Do you need a fishing license in Maine?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $30.00 for a resident annual licence, $83.00 for a visitor. 2 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Maine?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a Maine fishing licence online?
Yes. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife sells online and through licence agents. A $2.00 agent fee is added to every licence. Maine prices lifetime licences by the age you buy them: $8.00 at 70 and over, $50.00 at 65, dropping about $10.00 a year in between.
How much is a lifetime fishing licence in Maine?
It depends on your age when you buy: $8.00 at 70 and over, $10.00 at 69, rising roughly $10.00 a year down to $50.00 at 65. Younger buyers pay considerably more.
Do one-day and three-day licences cost the same for visitors in Maine?
Yes. The one-day is $11.00 and the three-day $23.00 whether you live in Maine or not, which makes a short trip cheap.